Hunter killed stranded does, sheriff says

TEXAS, Ohio - Henry County Sheriff John Nye arrived at the Maumee River yesterday to check on two deer stranded on the ice, but he ended up threatening to arrest a hunter instead.

The sheriff said the first thing he noticed on the river was a hunter standing out on the ice with a gun pointed at the deer. The animals had slipped several days earlier and couldn't get up. Residents had called the sheriff's office seeking assistance for the animals, he said.

“I thought `That's great,'” the sheriff said, recalling seeing the hunter on the ice. “We not only have two deer, but we have a human out there on this very unstable river.”

The man, who is from Swanton, stayed on land. He was later questioned by officials of the Ohio Division of Wildlife in Findlay.

Van Tea, a division spokesman, said charges are expected in the shooting. It's a violation in the deer zone that includes Henry County to shoot a doe, he said.

Mr. Tea said the charge likely would be a third-degree misdemeanor, which carries a possible 60 days in jail and a $500 fine. He said the first deer shot was seized as evidence but the second doe remained on the ice.

No charges had been filed yesterday in Napoleon Municipal Court through Law Director David Grahn's office, a spokesman for his office said.

The sheriff said a second hunter tried to walk onto the ice with the first hunter but returned to the bank after determining the ice was unsafe.